| 1 $ = | Start | 09/01/2026 | Change | |
| Last 24 hours | 16.107 R | ⇨ | 16.170 R | +0.4% |
| Last week | 15.945 R | ⇨ | 16.170 R | +1.41% |
| Last month | 16.525 R | ⇨ | 16.170 R | -2.15% |
| Last year | 17.62 R | ⇨ | 16.170 R | -8.23% |
| Currency | 08/25/2026 | 09/01/2026 | Change | |
| Russian Ruble (RUB) | 83.701 руб | ⇨ | 86.826 руб | +3.73% |
| Bolivian Boliviano (BOB) | 11.518 Bs | ⇨ | 11.915 Bs | +3.45% |
| Hungarian Forint (HUF) | 309.15 Ft | ⇨ | 317.68 Ft | +2.76% |
| Chilean Peso (CLP) | 913.37 $ | ⇨ | 935.97 $ | +2.47% |
| Belarusian Ruble (BYN) | 3.0178 Br | ⇨ | 3.0893 Br | +2.37% |
| South Korean Won (KRW) | 1,382.7 ₩ | ⇨ | 1,373.7 ₩ | -0.65% |
| Nigerian Naira (NGN) | 1,347.3 ₦ | ⇨ | 1,332.7 ₦ | -1.08% |
| Fijian Dollar (FJD) | 2.2313 FJ$ | ⇨ | 2.2018 FJ$ | -1.32% |
| Afghan Afghani (AFN) | 66 Af | ⇨ | 65 Af | -1.52% |
| Paraguayan Guaraní (PYG) | 5,996.2 ₲ | ⇨ | 5,902.8 ₲ | -1.56% |
| See also: 24h, monthly and yearly currency moves | ||||
| Currency name | South African Rand |
| Symbol | R |
| Also known as | ZAR, South African Rand, R1 = 100 cents |
| ISO code | ZAR |
| Banknotes | R10, R20, R50, R100, R200 |
| Coins | 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, R5 |
| Central bank | South African Reserve Bank (SARB) - Website: www.resbank.co.za |
| Countries | 1 country: South Africa (capital: Pretoria/Cape Town/Bloemfontein, major cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria) |
| Population | 60 mil. |
History
The South African rand (ZAR) takes its name from the Witwatersrand ("ridge of white waters") in Gauteng province, the geological formation upon which Johannesburg sits and beneath which the world's richest gold deposits were discovered in 1886. That gold rush transformed southern Africa and ultimately led to the Anglo-Boer Wars, which ended with British victory and the Union of South Africa in 1910.
The South African pound was the currency until 14 February 1961, when South Africa became a republic and introduced the rand at a rate of 2 rand per pound. The rand was initially fixed to the US dollar (at $1.40 per rand), giving it one of the strongest valuations among African currencies. The country's gold reserves underpinned its monetary credibility.
Apartheid and international sanctions from the 1970s onward damaged South Africa's international standing and economy. A debt moratorium in 1985, when South Africa was cut off from international capital markets, triggered a dramatic rand collapse. The currency continued to weaken through the apartheid era and the chaotic early years of democracy under Nelson Mandela.
Today the rand is freely floating and managed by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). It is one of the most traded emerging market currencies, heavily influenced by global risk sentiment, commodity prices (South Africa is a major exporter of gold, platinum and other minerals), and domestic political and fiscal conditions.
Sources:
"South African rand", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_rand
"South African Reserve Bank", Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Reserve_Bank